Ok..so let's assess - where's the £1m gone?

I didn't want McAllister to go, so he could come back and finish what he started as far as I'm concerned.

Gus Poyet should have been appointed instead of Grayson and he'd be fantastic.

I like Malky Mackay but he went to Cardiff.

DiMatteo would have been good but he's gone back to Chelsea now.

See, we're not only missing out on players but managers too.

Dougie Freedman is perhaps one to keep an eye on. He seems to have a lot of potential.

Money in Bates pocket. We will be rumoured to bid around £1m for players without ever getting bids accepted and it is never our fault.

Bates and Grayson are playing games, money will stay in Bates pocket. Why do you think no transfer fees are disclosed?

Protest and get Bates out.

No manager worth his salt would come to work for BATES you get a budget of zero to work on we get beat by small clubs for any player we are interested in.Why would Poyet come to Leeds he has spent £5m on players so fay for Brighton a small club HE willnot come to work for that man!

how can we be missing out on managers when we are not in the market for a manager?

Freedman has come out the paper today and said that Palace will NOT break their wage structure for ANY player. So we are not the only ones missing out on players due to wage demands.

My take is that Bates and SG are playing a risky waiting game that may or may not prove masterful. There are going to be plenty of players going out on loan (from Prem teams) and the ones that have been released and are yet to find a club will cost much less than they think they are worth as the season gets closer.

I do concede however that the GP position is becoming a bit of a worry - whatever reason Kasper left for (and I've heard a few).

What's riskier though. Not spending above our strict wage and transfer policy our blowing huge amounts of money in the hope of getting promoted?

Captain - I honestly think it's far riskier to go down the Ridsdale route again. Personally I would like to see a steady improvement that doesn't put the club in hock or in danger of going under again.

As for Bates spending on the ground - well I have to accept that is the business plan which I assume has been planned and worked out for the benefit of the club long term.

Stoopo, I get sense that you get it but dont like it. Same here. It is what it is at the mo. Slow and painful.

Of course I would like my team to be back in the big time but I don't want to go through what we went through with PR.

Yes it's painful seeing my once great club looking at bargain basement players. However it was the lack of investment in the facilities over the years and too much investment in the team that got us where we are today. Let's see if Bates' model is any better before we crucify him.

Sensible if not particularly exciting. See if it works...